Rune stone path

Womens woes

"Hey, Hermione," Harry said giving her a quick kiss as she came into the apartment. "Thanks for coming early. I have something I need to tell you." He ran a hand through his hair and moved to the couch.

"Wotcher, Hermione!" Tonks called from the kitchen. "I'm making the popcorn and apparently I got drafted to play bodyguard. So no harming the guy, yeah?"

"I promise, Tonks," Hermione said rolling her eyes. She got a little gleam in her eyes and continued playfully, "Though if he tries to start bragging about his accomplishments or discusses his latest scheme to defy death I make no promises!"

"I can understand that. Yell if you two need anything," Tonks finished and the teens heard the microwave start.

"She got here early as well?" Hermione asked sitting down next to Harry.

He shrugged. "I think she got annoyed with Kreacher and Sirius mostly. She came storming through the Floo muttering something about a horrible painting that refused to properly burn, an annoying house elf that seemed far too eager to get his head chopped off and a dog that kept making inappropriate comments." Harry paused and laughed slightly. "Which must have been pretty bad if they got Tonks riled up."

"Yes, well it is Sirius," Hermione said shaking her head and grinning slightly. "So what did you want to talk to me about? I actually have something to tell you as well." She shifted so that she was looking at him instead of leaning against his side.

"Oh, what?" Harry asked.

"You first, Mister Potter," Hermione said with a raised eyebrow. "You were the initial one to say something after all."

"Right," Harry gulped and shifted his eyes so that he was staring above Hermione instead of at her. "Err, this is kinda awkward. Well, more than kinda. I um, I stopped by Gringotts a while ago and um…well the thing with being Sirius' Heir is a tad bit more complicated than I had expected. And err…I kinda…havetomarryatleasttwopeoplenow," he finished in a rush.

Hermione blinked. "I'm not going to pretend I understood that last bit, but from the beginning of it I take it that you already know you need to have a second girlfriend for House Black now?"

Harry nodded dejectedly. "Yeah. I'm sorry. I understand that you want to break – " He cut off midsentence as her words caught up to his thoughts. Then he gaped and stared at her. Stared at her very amused expression. "You knew too, Mione?!"

"That was actually what I was going to talk to you about as well today, Harry." Hermione said with a slight laugh. She patted his cheek. "Harry, you're sweet, but you really need to look more closely at politics in the wizarding world. Did you ever bother to read those books that Neville, Daphne and I gave you? As soon as Sirius proclaimed that you were his Heir I knew immediately that you'd have to have a second girlfriend and eventual wife. Everyone present did. We all just assumed that you knew already so we didn't bring it up."

"Yeah," Harry muttered, "I figured that the others knew. I actually just sent off a letter to Neville, Daphne and Luna saying 'Thanks for the heads up guys. You all suck.' Amelia was carrying the message to Susan personally and I figured Tracey would've actually had a good laugh about it and purposefully didn't say anything. I didn't think you'd know too…"

Hermione leaned over and kissed him softly. "Harry, I'm sorry I didn't tell you. My parents asked about some things a little while ago and I only realized then that you probably hadn't realized that implication. I apologize for not talking to you sooner and for you having to find out via the goblins. I've been trying to think of a good way to bring it up." She reached into her bag and pulled out three sheets of paper, presenting them to him one at a time. "I've made some lists. This one is a list of partners I feel are most suitable for you in order of compatibility."